Floodlight



June 12, 1934. c. H. OPPENHEIMER FLOODLIGHT Filed Aug. 26, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 12, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE assignor to Enterpris tures, Inc, Cleveland,

Ohio

e Electric Lighting Fix- Ohio, a corporation of Application August 26, 1932, Serial No. 630,564

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a Floodlight especially adapted for use in show windows and similar places.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a simple and effective device of this character which will accomplish the two functions by the use of a device occupying a minimum of space and by means of which new and desirable lighting effects may be had. A more limited object is the provision of a combined device of this character comprising two compartments separated by a partition which serves the double function of illuminating a translucent sign by reflected light and forming a portion of the floodlight compartment giving to such compartment a desirable shape.

A still further object is the provision of means for securing a spotlight effect on articles displayed in the show window or by simple manipulation destroying such effect and giving more nearly uniform lighting.

Other and more limited ob'ects will become apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a device embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken therethrough; Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and Fig. 4 is a detail elevation of one of the lenses.

In the drawings the numeral indicates the bottom wall of a casing having a front wall 11 the lower portion of which is formed by a translucent sign 12, a top wall 13 and an inclined rear wall 14 provided with a plurality of lenses 15. The sign 12 may be mounted between the wall 11 and offset members 16, provision being made for sliding the sign in from one end whereby it may be changed, if desired. The bottom wall 10 may be continuous with a portion 17 of the wall 14 turned back to provide a channel between itself and a bottom strip 18 removably secured thereto as by a thumb screw 19. Extending from the lower front corner to the upper rear corner of the casing is a partition 20 which may be continuous with a portion 21 of the front wall 14 whereby to complete the mounting for the lenses 15. The front surface of the partition 20 is highly polished or otherwise provided with a reflecting surface.

Mounted above the sign 12 in the sign compartment S as by brackets 22 are a plurality of sockets 4 23 receiving electric bulbs 24 and energized by suitable electric connections 25 to a source of current 26. Inasmuch as the lamps 24 are poa sitioned above the sign 12 only a small amount of light therefrom will fall directly upon the sign. However, the rays from these lamps will be refiected from the reflecting surface of the partition 20 and illuminate the sign 12. The sign may be opaque and provided with a translucent design or translucent and provided with an opaque design.

Suitably mounted within the floodlight compartment F is a tubular shaft 2'7 having mounted on one end thereof outside the casing a knob 28 by which it may be rotated through a small angle. Between the knob 28 and the end wall of the casing is provided a spring washer 29 adapted to cooperate with the knob and a similar spring washer 30 between the opposite end wall and a collar 31 on the shaft 27 to hold the shaft 2'7 frictionally in any adjusted position. Rigidly mounted upon the shaft 2'7 are a plurality of arms 32 carrying sockets 33 for bulbs 34. Electrical connections 35 may extend from the sockets 34 to a source of current 36 brought in through the tubular shaft 27. The conductors 35 may pass through suitable openings 3''] in the shaft. Each of the bulbs 34 may have secured thereto a hemispherical reflector 38 adapted to direct a large portion of the light toward the lens 15. These reflectors may be secured to the bulbs in any suitable manner as by springs 39 and 40 passing therearound.

Each of the lenses 15 is provided with a plurality of concentric ridges 15 surrounding its center. When it is desired to give a spotlight effect or brilliant illumination to some particular object in the show window, a bulb 34 is positioned immediately behind the center of the lens 15 in alignment with the object so to be illuminated. If the knob 28 is actuated to position the bulbs 34 eccentrically of the lenses 15 the result will be greater diffusion of the light, the spotlight eifect gradually disappearing as the bulb is positioned further from the center of the lens. The lens 15 is what is known as a Fresnel lens but the lens shown in the drawings is not to be regarded as a detail showing of the prisms.

From the foregoing it will appear that I have provided a simple device which is well adapted for its intended purpose and while I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention I wish it understood that I am not limited to the details of the disclosure except in accordance with the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus descr'bed my invention, what I claim is:

1. A fioodlight for show windows comprising in combination a casing having a backwardly inclined face provided with a Fresnel type lens, a bottom, an oppositely inclined wall forming with said bottom an angle opposite said lens, the surface of the said Wall adjacent said lens having a light reflecting surface, a plurality of lamps disposed between said lens and said inclined wall and means for moving said lamps laterally of said lens toward and from a position opposite the center thereof.

2. In a fioodlight for a show Window, a casing, a Fresnel type lens forming one wall of said casing, a shaft mounted within said casing and accessible from the exterior thereof, a plurality of lamps disposed behind said lens and operatively 

